CHARLOTTE, N.C. — For the first time since Lincoln University re-joined the Central Collegiate Athleitc Conference (CIAA) three years ago, a Lions team came away with a victory in the historic conference tourney.

Behind 22 points from junior guard Cynthia Johnson, and great team defense, Lincoln never trailed as they knocked off Johnson C. Smith, 50-46, in the first round of the women’s tournament at Time Warner Cable Arena on Tuesday. The Lions (10-17) won’t have long to savor their triumph as they face South Division champion Fayetteville State in the quarterfinals today at 3 p.m.

“It’s really excting to be a part of this,” said senior forward Tahlar McIntosh, who was named to the All-CIAA team Monday. “I’ve been here for four years and there hasn’t been a whole lot to get excited about, so getting a win like this is great.”

Lincoln jumped out quickly, scoring on a 3-pointer from Brittney Watters and a bucket from Johnson to take a 5-0 lead, and was up by as much as 13-2 in the first half. Johsnon chipped in 10 of her game-high 22 over the first 20 minutes, while McIntosh tallied all eight of her points in the same span.

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“We’ve had some issues with being dribble happy this season and that’s come back to bite us,” said Lincoln coach Jessica Kern. “But tonight, we were able to avoid that, and that helped us break their press and get to our fastbreak.”

At the half, the Lions were up 30-24, and were looking like their season-long problem with free throws was in the rear view mirror. Lincoln connected on 5 of 7 from the line in the first half, a more than respectable 71.4 percent.

“Anyone who has seen us play knows that we’ve had trouble from the line,” said Kern. “Free throws have been our Achilles’ heel all year. We’re getting to the line 30 time a game, we just have to start knocking them down.”

The Lions once again topped 30 trips to the line, but the second half saw the numbers regress to the mean as Lincoln hit just 10 of 26, leaving them at 15 of 33 for the night.

Slowly, the Golden Bulls (8-18) snuck back in it. Paced by Kaylah Gholson’s 12 second half points and Lincoln’s struggles from the line, JCSU cut the lead down to as few as a single point, and hung within 3-5 points the rest of the way, but couldn’t get over the hump. Lincoln continually received the big stop when needed.

“Defense has been our calling card all year,” said Johnson. “And tonight, we showed we can play defense once again and it really won the game for us.”

Johnson’s play earned her notice, and a plaque, as the game’s Most Valuable Player, presented by the CIAA.

“That is just the way that kid’s heart works,” said JCSU coach Stephen Joyner. “Her approach to the game reminds me a lot of the girl who is the Player of the Year in this conference (Kristen Hanzer of Fayetteville State). I’m looking forward to seeing those two square off tomorrow.”

Joyner was at the helm of the team that knocked Lincoln out last year, Winston-Salem State. He was unsurprised to see the teables turned this season.

“I said it last year after we knocked them out that Lincoln was a program that was on the rise,” said Joyner. “Coach Kern has really brought them together, they have a good group of players, and they’ve proven all year that they are a team on the way up in this conference.”